CINCINNATI – In FC Cincinnati’s first U.S. Open Cup match of the season – the same tournament that last season provided king-making victories over Major League Soccer clubs Columbus Crew and Chicago Fire – it took 94 minutes for the Orange and Blue to grab a lead over lower-level Detroit City FC of the National Premier Soccer League.

It came courtesy FCC veteran midfielder Corben Bone, who came on as a substitute in the game’s 67th minute. Bone started the game on the bench, getting a brief rest due to a heavily rotated starting 11 by head coach Alan Koch, who will have to get his team ready for another match on Saturday.

The match was played at Gettler Stadium, across the street from the usual Nippert Stadium confines, giving it an intimate yet jilted vibe. But in a sign of just how important it was to Koch to see the club survive and advance in U.S. Soccer’s preeminent knockout tournament, he subbed Bone on midway through the second half. The midfielder...